via Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 07 March 2024: This paper by Elias delves into the cultural and artistic exchange facilitated by the Southwest Silk Road in ancient China, particularly focusing on the development of bronze metallurgy in the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. By examining the archaeological sites of Sanxingdui, Jinsha, and the ancient kingdom of Dian, it highlights the interconnectedness of these regions through shared artistic and technological advancements. The study suggests that the multi-ethnic nature of the Southwest, along with the movement of people and the availability of key minerals, played crucial roles in fostering unique local metallurgical cultures. The recent discovery of new sacrificial pits at Sanxingdui, with over 500 artifacts, promises to shed further light on the hypotheses discussed, emphasizing the ongoing need for comparative research in this rich area of study.
In examining wares discovered from the cultures of Sanxingdui and Jinsha and from the former site of the ancient kingdom of Dian in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, this article highlights a number of shared features and trends that suggest a continued artistic, technological and cultural transmission through time and space. The article aims to supplement established theories on the rich material culture of this region. It will look in particular at the development of its striking bronze metallurgy, largely deriving from the established traditions of the Yellow River valley in China’s Bronze Age. It highlights the function of a dense network of trading routes, referred to in modern scholarship as the “Southwest Silk Road”, as an important facilitator of cultural and artistic exchange and reciprocation from ancient times.
